Self-contained action unit for firearms of the breakdown type



Nov. 29, 1960 H. H. sEFRn-:D n 2,951,792

SELF-CONTAINED ACTION UNIT FOR FIREARMS 0F THE BREAKDOWN TYPE Filed Feb.24, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. H. SEFRIED IlSELF-CONTAINED ACTION UNIT FOR FIREARMS OF' THE BREAKDOWN TYPE Nov. 29,1960 Filed Feb. 24, 1960 2,961,792 SELF-CONTAINEDACTIoNUNT FOR FIREARMSor rnn BREAKDOWN TYPE HarryH; Serried'll, 5 Sheidon Terrace,

New Haven, Conn; ruta Feb. 24,1960, ser'. No. 10,750

zo claims. (c1. 42..-41)

This invention relates to firearms in general, and to actions forfirearms of break-down type in particular.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide fora firearm of break-down type an action which is of simple constructionand lends itself to highly efficient and low-cost mass production, yetis most reliable in its performance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a firearmof this type an action of which all parts are readily assembled andmounted on a bracket to form therewith a self-contained action unitoutside the receiver, and to assemble this unit with the receiver onmerely sliding the unit intact into and locking it in the receiver.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a firearmof this type the aforementioned action unit of which the mountingbracket is advantageously an integral eXtension of the trigger guard andnot only carries all the operating and other parts of the action,including the barrel lock and release part and the necessary powerspring parts, but also retains all of these parts in operative relationwith each other. With this arrangement, the complete assembly of theaction unit outside the receiver is achieved with the utmost facilityand speed, and the assembled unit is fully operative even before it isplaced in the receiver and, hence, may advantageously be tested as toits proper performance directly on completion of its assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a firearm of thistype with a low-cost die-cast receiver which permits perfectly safe useand reliable performance of the firearm for the longest time regardlessof its caliber, and which requires no machining other than a fewexceedingly'simple and quick machiney operations. To the end ofattaining safety in the use of thel firearm, the die-cast is providedwith a recoil interceptorV in the` form of a simple steel blank which isin backing relation with the chamber end of the unbroken barrel anddistributes the recoil forces over a sufiiciently large area of thereceiver to eliminate any possible damage to the latter. On the otherhand, the aforementioned action unit makes for reliable performance andenduring use of the firearm because no operating parts of the actionunit are supported or mounted on the die-cast receiver and, hence, arein their performance in no wise dependent on the structural strengthofthe receiver.

It isa further object of the present invention to provide for a firearmof this type the aforementioned action unit of which the bracketextension of the trigger guard is of general channel shape in which arereceived and also confined in operative relation with each other theprimary fire-controlling trigger, searand firing-pin parts as well asthe manual action part for cooking the former parts and preferably alsofor operating the barrel lock and release part, with the manual actionpart being advantageously a lever pivoted about an axis transversely ofthe receiver and having an accessible handle outside the receiver foroperational movement of this lever directly in the longitudinal plane ofthe'receiver in which the primary firenite States Patent controlling`parts operate. With these primary fire control parts and the manualactiony part thus arrangedv ink the channeled bracket extension of thetrigger guard,` the channel may be relatively narrow and the assembledaction unit easily kept within the accustomed width of the -triggerguard plate for the reception of the latter and of the entire actionunit in an aperture of preferred uniform Width in the receiver, yet theoperational movability of the manual action part longitudinally of thereceiver may be over most any convenient range best Suited for accurateand reliable co-actiou of the aforementioned primary fire-controllingparts at their most convenient and least crowded relative locations inthe channeled bracket extension.

Other objects andr advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction With the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a firearm of breakdown type havingin its receiver an action unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the same firearm;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary longitudinal sections through the receiverof the firearm as taken on the lines 3 3 and 4 4 of Fig. 2, and showingthe featured action unit therein in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a section through the firearm similar to Fig. 3, but carryingthe section through the featured action unit;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the firearm taken substantially on theline 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are cross-sections through the firearm takensubstantially on the lines 7 7, 8 8 and 9 9, respectively, of Fig. 5; i

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary longitudinal sections through thefirearm taken substantially on the lines 10 10 and Il ll, respectively,of Fig. 3;

Fig. l2 is a section through the firearm similar to Fig. 5, but showingthe featured action unit in a different operative position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section through the firearm similar to Figs. 5and 12, but showing the featured action unit in still another differentoperative position; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section through a firearm with a featuredaction unit of modified form. v

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 11thereof, the reference numeral 20 designates a firearm of well-knownbreak-down type, herein some-. times referred to more specically as afirearm of barrel break-down type. To this end, the barrel 22 andforestock 24 are pivoted at 26 to. a frame part or extension 28 of thereceiver 30 (Fig. 1) to permit tilting of the barrel` from its firingposition for the extraction of a fired shell s from and placement of aloaded shell in the chamber 32 of the barrel (Fig. 3). The barrel 22V isin its firing position customarily releasabrly locked to the frame part28V of the receiver 30 by means of a lock element 34 which presently isa bar Yactuated from within the receiver. Thus, the present bar V3d. isin its forwardly projectedV barrel-locking position (Figs. 3 and 11)'inter-- locked with notches 36 in theopposite walls V33 of4 aA barrellug 40 which is customarily secured to the barrel, 22 and houses aVsuitable shell-ejecting mechanism. including an ejector with an actionhead 42 (Fig. 3). The.. barrel 22 is thus securely locked in its firingposition to the frame part 28 of the receiver 30, and may beV tiltedabout the pivot`26 for reloading purposes on reardescribed fullyhereinafter, the bar 34 is also actuated hom Within the receiver 30 forits retraction from barrel-locking position.

The receiver 30 presently houses a self-contained action unit 44 whichforms a distinct feature of the present invention. This action unit 44,which is received and presently releasably mounted in an aperture 46 inthe receiver 30, is fully assembled outside the receiver and is fullyoperative on its mere insertion into the receiver aperture 46. To thisend, all the parts of the action, including the necessary power springs,are mounted exclusively on a bracket 48 which in the present instance isadvantageously formed integrally with the mounting plate 50 of a triggerguard 52. The bracket 48 has uplright walls 54 dening between them achannel 56 of presently uniform width throughout. Mounted in the channel56 of the bracket 48 are the primary lire-controlling parts, namely afiring pin 58, a sear 60 and a trigger 62, as well as a manualfire-control restoring member 64. The firing pin 58 and sear 60 aremounted in the bracket channel 56 for joint excursions into the ring andcocked positions shown in Figs. andY l2, respectively, and they are intheir excursions confined to movement in the median plane x-x of thebracket channel 56 (Fig. 7) which coincides with the median plane y-y ofthe receiver 30 (Fig. 2). The trigger 62 is movable into the tiring andcocked positions shown in Figs. 5 and 12, respectively, and itsoperational movement is similarly confined to the median plane x-x ofthe bracket channel 56. The manual member 64 is movable into theinoperative and operative positions shown in Figs. 5 and 13,respectively, and its operational movement is also confined to themedian channel plane x-x.

.The firing pin 58 is presently of a thickness smaller 'than the widthof the bracket channel 56 (Fig. l0), and is nevertheless confined in thebracket channel to operational movement in the median channel planex--x. To this end, the firing-pin 58 is intermediate its ends providedwith opposite spacers or washers 66 which may simply be pinned theretoas at 70 and which have a relatively loose guide iit in the bracketchannel 56 (Fig. Further to the same end, a length of the ring pin 58 isin the mounted condition of the action unit 44 received with a slidingfit in a narrow guide slot 68 in the receiver which leads from therelatively wide receiver 4aperture 46 to a small opening 72 throughwhich passes the tapered action end 65 of the firing pin into and fromfiring position (Figs. 3, 6, 10 and 12). The firing pin 58 is otherwiseguided in the bracket channel 56 for rectilinear movement in a mannerdescribed hereinafter.

The sear 60, with its conventional cock and stop shoulders 74 and 76 forthe trigger 62, is pivotally mounted on a crosspin 78 in the bracket 48(Figs. 5 and 8). While the sear 60 is presently of the sarne thicknessas the firing pin 54, i.e., less than the width of the bracket channel56, the sear is nevertheless conned in its operational movement to themedian plane x-x by virtue of the interposition of spacers 80 betweenthe sear and the opposite walls 54 of the bracket 48 (Figs. 5, 8 and11). The sear 60 and firing pin 58 vare for their joint excursions intotiring and cocked positions operatively connected, presently by a singlemeshing gear tooth connection 82 between them (Fig. 5).

The trigger 62, which is pivoted on a crosspin 84 in the bracket 48(Figs. 3 to 5 and 7), extends with its handle part 62a through a bottomaperture 86 in the mounting plate 50 of the trigger guard, with thishandle part being of greater width than the remainder of the triggerinside the bracket channel 56 and having a sliding it therewith near thebottom aperture 86 (Figs. 5 and 8), thus confining at least the handlepart of the trigger in the bracket channel 56 to operational movement inthe median channel plane x-x. The remaining narrower part of the trigger62 within the bracket channel 56 is confined to operational movement inthe same 75 median plane x-x by the manual member 64 in a mannerdescribed hereinafter. j

The manual member 64, which is in the form of a lever having spacedopposite arms 88 joined by integral webs 90 (Figs. 5, 7 and 11), isreceived with a loose tit in the bracket channel 56 and is pivoted onthe same pin 84 on which the trigger 62 is pivoted. The manual levei 64is thus confined in its operational movement to the median channel planex-x, andthe narrower part of the trigger 62 inside the bracket channel56 is also contined in its operational movement to the same plane x-x byvirtue of its substantially fitted reception between the straddling arms88 of the lever 64 (Fig. 11).

The lever 64, hereinafter sometimes referred to as manual action lever,is normally urged into the inoperative position of Fig. 5 by a preloadedtorsion spring 92 which is anchored to a crosspin 94 in the lever 64 andhas one leg `96 .bearing against one of the connector webs 90 of thislever (Figs. 5, 7 and 11). The other leg 98 of the spring 92 bearsagainst the trigger 62 and urges the same into its cocked position inwhich it is locked to the cock shoulder 74 of the sear 60 (Fig. 12). Themanual action lever 64 extends through the widthwise reduced top 100 ofthe receiver aperture 46 to the outside of the receiver 30 and is thereprovided with a' thumb grip 102 with which to manipulate the l'ev'erI 64 (Figs. 2, 5 and 7). Thus, after having lired the shell s (Fig. 3), thefire control is restored by manually retracting the action lever 64 fromthe inoperative position in Figs. 3 to 5 into the position in Fig. 12,thereby returning the tiring pin 58, sear 60 and trigger 62 into theircocked position by virtue of the coupling relation between the spacedarms 88 of the action lever 64 and the washers 66 on the tiring pin(Fig. 10). On release of the retracted manual action level 64 the sameis spring-returned to its inoperative position in which it bears againstthe end 104 of the receiver aperture 46 next to the guide slot 68 in thereceiver.

The tiring pin 58 and Sear 60 are normally urged into their firingposition by a preloaded torsion spring 106 which is presently anchoredon the pivot pin 7S of the sear 60 advantageously outside the bracketchannel 56 for its ready mounting on the bracket 48 outside the receiver30 (Figs. 3, 8 and 11). One leg 108 of the spring 106 bears against thebottom surface of a lateral ledge 110 formed on one of the upright walls54 of the bracket 48 (Figs. 3 and 7)', while the other leg 112 of thespring normally bears against a crosspin 114 in the sear 60 whichextends through clearance apertures 116 in the bracket walls 54. It willbe noted in Fig. 3 that the acting leg 112 of the spring 106 ispresently stopped short of the tiring position of the sear 60 and ringpin S8 by a lateral shoulder formation 118 on the adjacent bracket wall54, meaning that this spring leg will power the sear and tiring pin overthe greater part of their excursion toward iin'ng position, with thesear and tiring pin completing the last part of their excursion intofiring position by inertia. However, it is fully within the purview ofthe present invention to rely solely on the power of the spring 106 forthe full excursion of the sear and firing pin into firing position bysimply locating the crosspin 114 differently on thc sear or byshortening the spring leg 112 so as to keep it out of reach of theshoulder formation 118, for example.

The barrel lock bar 34 is slidably supported on lower front parts 120 ofthe bracket walls 54 (Figs. 3 to 6 and ll) and is guided in a widthwisereduced front part 122 of the receiver aperture 46 into and from barrellocking position (Fig. l1). The lock bar 34 has a rearwardly extendingside leg 124 which is slidably received between the lateral ledge 110 onone of the bracket walls 54 and a lateral formation 126 on the Samebracket wall (Figs. 3, 7 and 1l), and which has a lateral inwardformation 128 extending through a clearnceapertre 130 n the same bracketwall intolcoupling alignment with the adjacent arm 88 ofthe manualaction lever 64 (Fig. 11). The lock bar 34 has another, shorter side leg132 (Figs. 4, 7 and 1l) which is slidably received between lateral ledgeformations 134 and 136 on the adjacent bracket wall 54, and which at itsend is engaged by the leg 138 of a preloaded action spring 140 oftorsion type that urges the lock bar 34 vinto its barrel lockingposition. The `spring 140 is releasably anchored on the outside of thebracket channel 56 on the common pivot pin 84 for the trigger 62 andmanual action lever 64, and its other leg 142 bears against a cut-awayshoulder 144 on a lateral formation 1'46 on the adjacent bracket wall 54(Figs. 4 and 11). Thus, on retracting the manual action lever 64 fromits inoperative position (Fig. into its operative position (Fig. 13) thesame will not only cock the firing pin 58, sear 60 and trigger 62 butwill also retract the lock bar 34 from interlock with the barrel lug 40and thus permit the barrel 22 to be tilted for extraction of a fired`shell from and insertion of a loaded shell into the barrel chamber 32,whereupon the barrel may be returned to its firing position. The manualaction lever 64 will ordinarily have been released in the meantime forspring-return to its inoperative position (Fig. 5) with ensuingspring-return of the lock bar 34 into its barrel locking position, sothat on the return of the barrel into its tiring position the lock barwill at first be cammed by the barrel lug 40 backwards from its lockposition against the force of its spring 140 and will snap intointerlock with the barrel lug 40 when the barrel reaches its firingposition, aswill be readily understood.

The action unit 44 presently also includes a safety 150 which isreceived with a loose iit in the bracket channel 56 (Figs. 5 and 9) andpivoted on a crosspin 152 in the bracket 48. The safety 150 projectsthrough the open top 100 of the receiver aperture 46 to the outside ofthe receiver and is there provided with a thumb grip 154 for itsmanipulation into the off and on positionsV shown in Figs. 5 and 13,respectively. The safety 150 has a lower widthwise reduced end 156 whichin the safety-on position projects between the opposite spacers 80' onthe trigger 62 and cooperates with a tail 158 on the trigger in lockingthe latter in its cocked position against pull into its tiring position(Fig. 13). The safety 150 is yieldingly locked in either of itspositions by a leaf-type `spring element 160 having presently threespring legs 162 and a connecting yoke 164 at one end thereof. The springyoke 164 is presently received and located in shallowv grooves 166 inthe topsurfaces of the bracket walls54', and the outer spring legs 162project underneath lateral lugs 16S on the bracket walls 54 andrearwardly to the safety'150 and have intermediate V-formations 170(Figs. 3, 4 and 10) which cooperate with a ycrosspin 172V on thesafetyr150 yieldingly to lock the latter in its off position (Figs. 3and 5) as well as in its on position (Fig. 13).

In the present exemplary action unit 44, the lock bar 34, manual actionlever 64, firing pin 58 and safety 150 are so coordinated that only onfull retraction of the action lever 64 into its operative position (Fig.13) will the lock bar 34 have been retracted from interlock with thebarrel lug 4()l and thus released the barrel 22 for break-down, whilethe firing pin 58 has at the same time been retracted beyond its cookingposition (Fig. l2) and moved the safety 150 into its on position (Fig.13). Hence, on releasing the manual action lever 64 in its operativeposition for spring-return to its inoperative position, the safety 150will remain in its on position while the Jtiring pin 58 and sear 60 willbe backed by their action spring 106 into their cocked position (Fig.12). Accordingly, the safety 150 is automatically shifted into its onposition with each break;L down of the barrel 22, and the safety must bemanipulated into its. off position before the. rearm can be fired thenext time. Of course',` it is fully within the purview of the presentinvention to provide( for s'elec tive automatic shift of the safety intoits on position by ycoordinating the lock bar 34 and the manual actionlever 6-4 so that the former is fully retracted from interlock with thebarrel lug 40`when the action lever is retracted to the extent shown inFig. 12 for mere cocking o-f the firing pin, sear and trigger, thecooking of these parts being readily indicated by an audible click whenthe trigger snaps into interlock with the cock shoulder 74 on the sear.With the latter arrangement, it is left to the discretion of the userofthe firearm whether to apply or not to apply the safety, and if it isdesired to apply the safety the same may be shifted into its on positioneither by manipulatingV the same at its thumb grip 154 or on retractingthe manual action lever 64 beyond its position in Fig. 12 toward or intoa position such as that shown in Fig. 13, as Will be readily understood.

The action unit 44, on its insertion as al self-contained unit in thereceiver aperture 46, is simply locked therein by a pin 176 whichextends transversely through the receiver 30' and the bracket 4S of theaction unit therein, the receiver 30 and the bracket 48 having to thisend aligned holes 178 and 180 (Figs. l, 3, 4 and 10), and the pin 176having preferably a peripheral groove 182l into which snaps the leg 142of the preloaded action spring 140 when the pin 176 is fully driven intothe receiver, whereby this pin is releasably locked in position (Figs. 4and 10). The lock pin 176 also assists in guiding the ring pin 58 in arectilinear pathV on its excursions into its firing and `cockedpositions. Thus, the firing pin 58 has spaced portions of its lowersurface 184 resting on the lock pin 176 and on the concentric periphery186 `of the sear 60, and the firing pin is thus held against the pin 176and the concentric periphery 186 of the sear by the intermediateresilient leg 162 o-f the leaftype spring (Fig. 5).

The action unit 44 is also provided withV a cover plate 190 which notonly closes the bracket channel 56 on top and is preassembled with therest of the action unit outside a receiver, butwhich also closes theopen top 100 of the receiver aperture 46 when the action unit isinserted and locked in the receiver. The cover plate 190 is ofsubstantially the same contour as the open top 1011 of the receiveraperture so as to be substantially form-fitting therein (Figs. 2 to 9),and the same is over its longitudinal extent transversely curved (Figs.7 and 8) so as to be mountable at its center on top of the bracket 43and extend with its sides upwardly into full closing relation with theopen top 100 of the receiver aperture l46. The cover plate 190 is over afront length thereof provided with two spaced longitudinal slots 192(Figs. 2 and 5) through which extend the opposite arms 88 of the manualaction lever 64, and which are of sufficient lengths to permitfulloperational movement of the latter Without any impediment. The coverplate 190 is at its rear also slotted at 194 over a suicient length topermit full operational movement without impediment of the safety 1513of which a widthwise reduced part 196 extends through the slot 194(Figs. 2, 5 and 9). The cover plate 19t)` is readily assembled with therest of the action unit 44 outside the receiver by merely sliding the4slotted front length of the cover plate across the opposite arms 83 ofthe manual action lever 46 while the latter is spring-urged into aposition on the bracket 48 forward of that shown in Fig. 5 in which itis held by the receiver only on insertion of the action unit therein.After thus sliding'the slotted front length of the cover plate 190forwardly across the arms of the manual action lever sufficiently sothat the rear of the. cover plate will lclear the thumb grip 154 on thesafety 150, the cover` plate is first tilted downwardly at the rear pastthis thumb grip and into line withl the widthwise reduced portion 196 ofthe safety, whereupon the cover plate is slid with its slotted -rear endacross this reduced safety portion 196 intoa position approximately likethat shown in Fig. 5. The cover plate 190 is now adequately held on topof the bracket 48 by the overlying thumb grips 102 and 154 of the actionlever 64 and safety 150 until the action unit 44 is inserted and lockedin the receiver, the cover plate 199 then becoming even more firmlymounted in relation to both, the bracket 48 and receiver 30, by havingits tongue 198 between the front slots 192 therein project into, andrest against the top of the guide slot 63 in the receiver (Figs. 2 and5), and by having side wings 209 at its rear resting against the surface202 which joins the receiver aperture 46 of uniform width with itswidthwise considerably reduced open top 18) thereat (Fig. 9).

. As already mentioned, the action unit 44 is entirely assembled outsidethe receiver. In fact, the described construction of the action unit issuch that any and all parts thereof must indeed be assembled with thebracket 48 if they are to reach the interior of the receiver in theircooperative relation at all. Of course, this compulsory total assemblyof the entire action unit 44 outside the receiver is of great advantagesince it eliminates, among other things, cumbersome assembly of actionparts in a receiver within the relatively small space of its apertu're.Thus, the assembly outside of the receiver of the manual action lever64, firing pin 58, sear 60, trigger 62 and safety 150 in the channel 56of the bracket 48, including the mounting of the common action spring 92for the action lever and trigger, is a comparatively simple taskrequiring little skill and time. The lock bar 34 is even more quicklyassembled with the bracket 48 by merely sliding it onto its describedsupport thereon with its lateral formation 128 extended through theclearance aperture 130 in the bracket and into coupling alignment withthe action lever 64 in the bracket channel 56 (Fig. 1l). An equallysimple and quickly performed task is the mounting on the bracket 48 inreadily accessible manner outside the channel therein of the actionsprings 106 and 140 for the sear and firing-pin parts and for the barrellock bar. The leaf-type spring 160 is assembled in the action unit bymerely sliding the same with its intermediate spring leg 162 over thering pin 58 and with its outer spring legs 162 under the lateral lugformations 168 on the bracket walls 54 until the connecting yoke 164 ofthe spring snaps into the receiving notches 166 in the top surfaces ofthese bracket walls. Finally, the cover plate 190 is applied to theaction unit by the few simple manipulations already describedhereinbefore. In thus assembling the parts of the action unit outside areceiver, these parts are also held in fully cooperative relation on thebracket 48, as is quite evident from the foregoing description. In thisconnection, even the ring pin 58 is in its operational movement confinedto the median plane x-x, by the opposite spacers 66 thereon with theirguide fit in the bracket channel 56 on the one hand, and by the actionlever 64 on the other hand, of which the opposite arms 88 receive thering pin with a sliding fit.

With the action unit 44 thus assembled, the same is even fully operativeoutside a receiver and may, if desired, be tested in its actionimmediately on finishing its assembly. To do so, it is merely necessaryto hold the assembly with one hand so as to assume the lateral lockbarguiding function which the receiver assumes when the action unit ismounted therein (Fig. ll). The action lever 64 may then be manipulatedwith the other hand through its full rearward excursion for cooking thetiringpin, sear and trigger, shifting the safety into its on position,and retracting the barrel lock bar, whereupon on release of the actionlever and on manual shift of the safety into its off position andsubsequent pull on the trigger, the sear and firing pin will eXcurseinto their firing position.

a The trigger-guard plate 50, from which the bracket 48 extends, ispreferably fittingly received in the open bottom of the receiveraperture 46 so as not only to close the latter at its bottom but also tolocate the action unit 44 in the receiver aperture, including line-up ofthe hole 180 in the bracket 48 with the hole 178 in thereceiver 30 forthe reception of the lock pin 176. To this end, the trigger-guard plate50 is over its longitudinal extent ttingly received in the bottom of thereceiver aperture (Figs. 6 to 9), and also rests against locatingshoulders 210 and 212 in the receiver (Fig. 5), with this platepresently having also a dove-tail connection 214 with the receiver up tothe shoulder 212 (see also Fig. 3).

In inserting the self-contained and fully assembled action unit 44 intothe receiver aperture 46 through the open bottom thereof, the manualaction lever 64 is held retracted in a position like or similar to thatshown in Fig. 13 in order that the firing pin 58 may pass with itsaction end 65 into the receiver through the guide slot 68 therein andthe barrel lock bar 34 may with its forward lock end pass into thereceiver within the longitudinal contines of the receiver aperture 46.With the action unit 44 fully inserted in the receiver, it is merelynecessary to force the lock pin 176 into the then aligned holes 178 and180 in the receiver and action unit to com'- plete the assembly of thelatter with the former.

It appears from Figs. 6 to ll that the mounting bracket 48 and allaction parts thereon are conned within the widthwise contines of thetrigger-guard plate 50 which is intertted with the open bottom of thereceiver aperture 46, thereby permitting the receiver aperture to beadvantageously of uniform width, except at its constricted open top(Fig. 2) and at its widthwise reduced guide portion 122 for the barrellock bar 34 (Fig. 1l). Further, since the action unit 44 is entirelyselfcontained with all the parts thereof mounted exclusively on thebracket 48 and completely independently of the receiver, the latterrequires no machining whatsoever for the mount of these action parts. Itis for this reason that the receiver 30 with its frame extension 28 mayadvantageously be a low-cost die-casting having its aperture 46 and allother inner configurations cast within the conventional tolerances whichare entirely adequate for accurate mounting of the action unit 44 in thereceiver without any machining of the latter. In this connection, eventhe open bottom of the receiver aperture 46 and the shoulders 210, 212and dove-tail formation 214 thereat (Figs. 3 to 9) are within their casttolerances entirely adequate to intert with the plate 50 of the actionunit, so that this plate will not only fully close the receiver apertureat the bottom but will also correctly locate the action unit Within thereceiver aperture. Even the hole 178 in the receiver for the receptionof the lock pin 176 may be cast, and may briefly be reamed for a desirediit of the lock pin. The same holds true of the hole in the frameextension 28 of the receiver for the reception of the pin 26 on whichthe barrel unit is pivoted (Fig. l).

The receiver 30 with its frame extension 28 may even be die-cast fromrelatively soft metal, such as a zinc alloy, for instance. To rendersuch a die-cast receiver safe as Well as enduring in its use, the sameis provided with a recoil interceptor 216 in the form of a simple steelblank which is seated in a cast recess 218 in the receiver and heldtherein by simple staking. The interceptor 216 is in full backingrelation with a chambered shell in the barrel in its firing position,and is of a size to distribute the recoil forces over a suiciently largearea of the receiver to eliminate any possible distortion of or otherdamage to the latter.

Reference is now had to Fig. 14 which shows a modified action unit 44which has all the advantages of the described action unit 44 insofar asits self-contained construction is concerned, but embodies a differentaction. The present action differs from that previously described inthat the firing pin 58 itself is manipulated for cock.

samba 9 ing the re controlling parts 58', 60 and 62', the manual actionlever 64 merely functioning to retract the bar 34" from barrel-lockingposition. To this end, the firing pin 44" is provided at its rear and outop of the action with a readily accessible thumb grip 220. Also, thepresent action has a conventional automatic safety which is incorporatedin the sear 66'. To this end, there is provided on `the sear .60' anintermediate safety shoulder 222 and an inclined surface 224 which joinsthe stop shoulder 76' with the safety shoulder 222. On pulling thecocked trigger 62', a short inclined sear surface 226 next to the cockshoulder 74' will positively deflect the trigger 62 into the path of thestop shoulder 76 on the sear so as to be struck by this stop shoulderwhen the firing pin 58 reaches its firing position, the firing pin beingpowered by the leg 112' of the action spring 106 through part of its'excursion. into firing, position and finishing the remainder of4 itsexcursion into firing position under its own inertia. To the end ofcompelling the firing-pin S8 to complete the remainder of its excursioninto firing position under its own intertia, the shoulder 118 on thebracket 48 will intercept the spring leg 112 before the firing pinreaches its firing position. As soon as the stop shoulder 76 on the Sear6d strikes against the pulled trigger 62 in the firing position of thepin 58', the trigger will, on its release and by virtue of its springurgency into cocked position, cooperate with the inclined sear surface224 and cam the Sear 60', and hence also the firing pin 58', into thesafety position shown in which the firing pin is sufficiently retractedto be out of reach of a loaded shell in the barrel on closing the latteron the receiver. Th'e trigger 62' andl inclined sear surface 224cooperate in reti-acting the firing-pin toward its safety positionuntilV the trigger snaps into interlock with the intermediate or safetysear shoulder 222. The spring-urged trigger 62' thus overpowers the sear60 and firing-pin 58' and cams them into the safety position shown, byvirtue of the fact that the retraction of these parts into safetyposition is within the region through which the firing-pin finishes itsexcursion into firing position under its own inertia and, hence, is notopposed by the leg 112 of the action spring 106.

All of the operating parts of the present modified action unit 44 areexclusively mounted on the bracket 4S', and the present action unit isin all respects like the previously described action unit 44 with thefew exceptions noted above. The present modified action unit 44 may haveits bracket 48 identical with that of the unit 4'4, and' all theoperating parts of the present unit are mounted on the bracketidentically as their exact or different counterparts of the unit 44,except that the present unit entirely lacksY the safety 15G of the unit44. Thus, the mountingl of the firing pin 58 of the present unit- 44may. be exactly the same as the mounting of the firing pin 58 of theunit 4'4, though the spacers 66' on the present firing pin serve solelyfor guidance of the latter in theT bracket channel S6 and aresufficiently spaced rearwardly from the action lever 64' to remain outof coupling relation with the latter regardless of its position. Thepresent unit 44 also has a slightly different cover plate 190` with alonger rear slot 194 for adequate clearance of the thumb grip 220throughout its operational movement with the firing pin. Further, theleaf-type spring 160 is somewhat modified by having a shorterintermediate spring leg 162 which will not interfere with theoperational movement of the thumb grip 220 on the firing pin 58'.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways` than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and', all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

iti

I claim:

l. A self-contained action unit for the receiver of a firearm of barrelbreak-down type, comprising a bracket adapted for insertion and mountingin a receiver; firing mechanism including trigger, scar and firing-pinparts, and

preloaded spring means and a manual member for powerv ing and cockingsaid parts; and a device including a lock element for moving the latterinto and from a barrel-lock'- ing position, said mechanism and devicebeing mounted exclusively on said bracket and being fully operative onmere insertion of said bracket into a receiver.

2. A self contained action unit as set forth in claim 1, in which saidbracket has formed integrally therewith a trigger guard.

3. In a firearm of barrel break-down type, the combination of a receiverwith an aperture; and a self-contained action unit in said aperture,said unit comprising a bracket inserted and mounted in said aperture,firing mechanism including trigger, sear and firing-pin parts, andpreloaded spring means and a manual member for powering and cocking saidparts, and a device including a lock element for moving the latter intoand from a barrel-locking position, said mechanism and device beingmounted exclusively on said bracket and being fully operative on mereinsertion of said bracket into said receiver aperture, with said memberbeing accessible outside the receiver aperture.

4. The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 3, in which saidreceiver is a die-casting having its aperture cast.

5. The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 3, in which saidbracket has a base plate with an integrally formed trigger guard, saidreceiver aperture has an open bottom formation fittingly receiving saidbase plate to locate said bracket in its mounting position in saidaperture, and said receiver is a die-casting having its apertureincluding said open bottom formation cast and non-machined.

6. The combination in a firearm as set forth in claim 5, furthercomprising a crosspin removably received in said receiver and extendingthrough said bracket therein to lock the latter in its mounted positionto said receiver.

7. A self-contained action unit for the receiver of 'a firearm of barrelbreak-down type, comprising a bracket adapted for insertion and mountingin a receiver; firing mechanism including trigger, Sear and firing-pinparts; a lock element movable into and from a barrel-locking position;preloaded spring means for powering said parts and for uring saidelement into said barrel-locking position; and a member manuallyoperable to cock said parts and to move said eiement from saidbarrel-locking position, said mechanism, element, preloaded spring meansandmember being mounted exclusively on said bracket and being fullyoperative on mere insertion of said bracket into a receiver.

8. A self-contained action unit for the receiver of a firearm of barrelbreak-down type, comprising a bracket adapted for insertion and mountingin a receiver; firing mechanism having trigger, sear and firing-pinparts; a l-ock element; a manual member, said parts being exclusivelymounted on said bracket in cooperative relation and for movement intofiring and cocked positions, and said element and member being alsoexclusively mounted on said bracket for movement into and from abarrellocking position and into and from an operative position,respectively, with said member being only on movement into saidoperative position in coupling relation with said sear and firing-pinparts and with said element to move them into said cocked position andfrom said barrellocking position, respectively; and preloaded springmeans anchored solely on said bracket 4and acting on said trigger partand on said sear and firing-pin parts to urge them into said cocked andfiring positions, respectively, and acting on Vsaid element and memberto u-rgethem into said barrel-locking position and from saidoperativeposition, respectively, with said action unit beingfullyoperative outside a receiver. Y

9. A self-contained action unit as Set forth in claim 8, furthercomprising a safety element also exclusively mounted on said bracket formovement into and from a safety position in which it locks said partsagainst movement into said firing position, said safety element being incoupling relation with said member and moved into said safety positionon movement of the latter into said operative position only, and saidsafety element being manually movable from said safety position.

10. A self-contained action unit for the receiver of a firearm of barrelbreak-down type, comprising a bracket adapted for insertion and mountingin a receiver and having a channel with a median plane; firing mechanismhaving trigger, sear and tiring-pin parts mounted in said channel incooperative relation and for movement in said plane into tiring andcocked positions; a lock element mounted on said bracket for movementinto and from a barrel-locking position; a manual member provided with aiixed handle and being mounted in said channel for movement in saidplane into and from an operative position, said member being only onmovement into said operative position in coupling relation with saidlook element and with said sear and firing-pin parts to move them fromsaid barrel-locking position and into said cocked position,respectively; and preloaded spring means anchored solely on said bracketand acting on said trigger part and on said sear and tiring-pin parts tourge them into said cocked and tiring positions, respectively, andacting on said lock element and member to urge them into saidbarrel-locking position and from said operative position, respectively,with said action unit being fully operative outside a receiver.

ll. A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim 10, in which saidbracket channel is of uniform width, said member and said trigger andsear parts are pivoted in said channel and said firing-pin part isguided for linear movement in said channel, with said parts Iand memberbeing confined in said channel against lateral movement.

12. A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim l1, in which saidmembe-r has a slot through which said tiring-pin part extends withclearance for operational freedom of said member, and said firing-pinpart has a .Shoulder in coupling alignment with said member, and saidsear and firing-pin parts are permanently coupled by a single meshinggear tooth connection between them.

13. A self-contained action unit for a firearm of barrel break-down typehaving a longitudinal receiver with an aperture open at the top andbottom, comprising a bracket adapted for insertion into a receiveraperture from the bottom thereof and for mounting therein and having alongitudinal channel with a median plane; tiring mechanism havingtrigger, sear and firing-pin parts mounted in said channel incooperative relation and for movement in said plane into tiring andcocked positions; a lock bar mounted on said bracket for movement insaid plane into and from a barrel-locking position; a manual membermounted in said channel for movement in said plane into and from anoperative position and being only on movement into said operativeposition in coupling relation with said bar and with said sear andfiring-pin parts to move them from said barrel-locking position and intosaid cocked position, respectively; first preloaded spring meansanchored solely on said bracket and acting on said bar and on said searand tiring-pin parts to urge them into said barrel-locking position andinto said firing position, respectively; and a single prel-oaded springmounted in said channel and acting on said member and trigger part tourge them from said operative position and into said cocked position,respectivelynwith said action unit being fully operative outside areceiver.

.14. A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim 13,

in which said first preloaded spring means are removablyl anchored onsaid bracket on the outside of said channel.

15. A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim 13, in which saidbracket has a longitudinal ledge outside of said channel and lateralapertures in said channel, said bar is slidably supported on said ledgeand has a lateral formation extending through one of said channelapertures into coupling alignment with said member, one of said sear andfiring-pin parts has a lateral formation extending through anotherchannel aperture to the outside of said channel, and said firstpreloaded spring means are two separate springs removably anchored onsaid bracket on the outside of said channel and acting on said bar andon said lateral part formation, respectively.

16. -A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim 13, furthercomprising a cover member also mounted on said bracket and adapted toclose the top of a receiver aperture on inserting and mounting saidbracket in the latter.

17. A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim 13, in which saidbracket has a base plate with an integrally formed trigger guard, withsaid base plate formed for inter-fitting reception in the bottom of areceiver aperture to close said aperture bottom and locate said bracketin its mounted position in the receiver aperture, and there is furtherprovided a cover member also mounted on said bracket and adapted toclose the receiver aperture at the top when said bracket is mountedtherein, with said cover member having a slot for the extensiontherethrough of said manual member with suilicient clearance for itsunimpeded operational movement.

18. A self-contained action unit as set forth in claim 13, furthercomprising a safety element also mounted in said channel for movement insaid plane into a safety-olf position and into a safety-on position inwhich it locks said trigger part against movement into said ringposition, said safety element being manually movable into saidsafety-off position, and being in coupling relation With one of saidsear and firing-pin parts and moved into said safety-on position onmovement of said member into its operative position only, and there isfurther provided spring means mounted on said bracket and actingyieldingly to lock said safety element in either of its positions.

19. In a firearm of barrel break-down type, the combination of areceiver with an aperture open at the top and bottom; and aself-contained action unit in said aperture, said unit comprising abracket inserted through the open bottom of said receiver aperture andmounted in the latter, a lock element movable into and from abarrellocking position, a manual member movable into and from anoperative position and being only on its movement into said operativeposition in coupling relation with said element to move it from saidbarrel-locking position, a rectilinearly guided firing-pin part, apivoted sear part coupled with said firing-pin part for joint excursionsinto tiring and cocked positions, a pivoted trigger part projectingthrough the open bottom of said receiver aperture and movable intotiring and cocked positions, preloaded spring means arranged to urgesaid element, trigger part and member into said barrel-locking andcocked positions and from said operative position, respectively, and tourge said sear and tiring-pin parts toward, but a certain distance shortof, their firing position with sutiicient force to complete theirexcursion into firing position solely by inertia, said sear part havingperipherally spaced first, second and third radial shoulderssuccessively offset from each other radially inwardly of said sear part,respectively, and a peripheral surface joining said iirst and secondshoulders and being inclined from the former inwardly toward the latter,with said rst and third shoulders engaged by said trigger part in thetiring and cocked positions, respectively, of said parts, and saidspring-urged trigger part cooperating, on its release in firingposition,l with said inclined peripheral sear surface 1n camming saidsear and tiring-pin parts from their firing position into a safetyposition within said certain distance from their firing position, withsaid trigger part coming to rest against said second sear shoulder, `anda handle on said tiring-pin part extending through the open top of thereceiver aperture for moving said firing-pin part into its cockedposition, said element, member, parts and preloaded spring means beingmounted exclusively on said bracket and being fully operable on mercinsertion of said bracket into said receiver aperture.

20. A self-contained action unit for a firearm of barrel break-downtype, comprising a bracket adapted for insertion and mounting in lareceiver; a lock element movable into and from a barrel-lockingposition; a manual member movable into and from an operative positionand being only on movement into said operative position in couplingrelation with said element to move it from said barrel-locking poistion;a rectilinearly guided firing-pin part; a pivoted sear part coupled withsaid ring-pin part for joint excursions into firing and cockedpositions; a pivoted trigger part movable into ring and cockedpositions; preloaded spring means arranged to urge said element, triggerpart and member into said barrel-locking and cocked positions and fromsaid operative position, respectively, and to urge said sear andfiring-pin parts 14 toward, but a certain distance short of, theirfiring position with sufficient force to complete their excursion intofiring position solely by inertia, said sear part having peripherallyspaced lirst, second and third, radial shoulders successively oiset fromeach other radially inwardly of said sear part, respectively, and aperipheral surface joining said Erst and second shoulders and beinginclined from the former inwardly toward the latter, with said first andthird shoulders engaged by said trigger part in the r'mg and cockedpositions, respectively, of said parts, and' said spring-urged triggerpart cooperating, on its release in tiring position, with said inclinedperipheral sear sur-` face in camming said sear and firing-pin partsfrom their firing position into a safety postion within said certaindistance from their tiring position, with said trigger part coming torest against said second sear shoulder; and a handle on said tiring-pinpart for moving the latter into its cocked position, said element,member, parts and preloaded spring means being mounted exclusively onsaid bracket, with said action unit being fully opertive outside.

a receiver.

No references cited.,

